Clinical presentation and biochemical profile of horses during induction and treatment of hypocalcemia

Abstract

espanolRESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la presentacion clinica, perfil bioquimico, y la respuesta al tratamiento en los caballos con hipocalcemia inducida experimentalmente. Doce yeguas se distribuyeron en un grupo control (n = 5) y un grupo tratado (n = 7). Acido etilendiaminotetraacetico disodico (Na2EDTA 5%) se infundio a los animales hasta que presentaron signos clinicos de hipocalcemia, momento en el que fueron tratados con una solucion comercial con calcio, fosforo, magnesio, y la glucosa en una dosis de 1 mL/ kg / PV de 30 minutos. El grupo control recibio 0,9% solucion salina en el mismo volumen. Examenes fisicos y coleccion de muestras sanguineas se realizaron en cuatro oportunidades: T0 (basal), T1 (al final de la infusion de Na2EDTA), T2 (al final del tratamiento), y T3 (24 horas despues del fin del experimento). Todas las yeguas presentaron una disminucion temporal en las concentraciones de calcio total y de magnesio y se observaron signos clinicos de hipocalcemia. En el curso del tratamiento, la taquicardia, taquipnea, hipofonesis, y la atonia del ciego desaparecieron, asi como aumentaron las concentraciones de calcio total magnesio. El tratamiento efectuado posibilito la recuperacion de la hipocalcemia clinica dentro de 30 minutos y retorno de las concentraciones de los principales parametros bioquimicos a los valores basales. EnglishABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical presentation, biochemical profile and response to treatment among horses with experimentally-induced hypocalcemia. Twelve adult, mixed breed mares were used. A 5% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (Na2EDTA) solution was infused into all the mares until the animals presented clinical signs of hypocalcemia, at which point they were divided into a control group (n = 5) and a treatment group (n = 7). The treated group received an infusion of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and glucose at a dosage of 1 mL/kg/BW during 30 minutes. The control group received 0.9% saline solution at the same dosage. Clinical examination and blood sample collection were performed at the times T0 (baseline- thirty minutes before beginning the Na2EDTA), T1 (at the end of the Na2EDTA infusion), T2 (at the end of the treatment) and T3 (24 hours after the end of the experiment). Serum calcium and magnesium concentrations decreased in response to Na2EDTA administration. The clinical signs of hypocalcemia in the mares included tachycardia, tachypnea, hypophonesis and cecal atony. These signs disappeared over the course of treatment, while total calcium and magnesium increased. Treatment produced recovery from clinical hypocalcemia within 30 minutes and promoted return of the main biochemical parameters to baseline values.